20 Trailblazers Leading The Way In Best Hob
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model that comes with numerous features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice and provide great temperature control, however they are pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier stove has four cooking zones and three "Push&Go" functions and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was also among the most efficient tested to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It comes with a child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process swiftly without having to fiddle with controls.
Its design is sleek, modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit flush on the worktop.
The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display which tells the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a brief time. It is ideal to stir fry and speedily bringing pans to boil. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also useful.
It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, in comparison to seven or six for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you change the temperature of cooking, which means you might have to alter settings several times before the pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It comes with dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal as well as 'boost' power levels. It is perfect for cooking, searing meat or bringing pots of water to a rapid boil.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 unique programmes split into different food categories and preparation types. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface as well as a lockable' control panel, plus it can automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn sets and comes with a variety of security features, including the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped drastically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold at less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth the extra cost.
This sleek-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology to make your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots with dimensions of at least 9 centimetres and then automatically will activate the appropriate zone.
Smeg's focus is on energy savings but it doesn't forget the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve power based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to save more energy by reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The color scheme of the control panel allows you to quickly determine the operational status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are a variety of useful functions, including four automated cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
The hob also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you when there's a risk of a burnt-on meal or a fire. There are other safety features, including a residual heat indicator and an auto shut-off feature if the surface is too hot.
It also has a protective CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough staining and cooking marks. The stove is simple to set up and features nine power levels, as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering to large pans. There are some additional features, such as locking controls and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pressing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is set on top. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs and they also consume less energy because the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to help you be creative when cooking. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to the boil quickly. A range of functions that are automatic like Push&Go allow you to cook your food perfectly by pressing the button. The controls are simple to use and allow you to select nine power modes including the P boost option that provides maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are simple to operate and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan after we put it on the Booster Zone and boiled pasta water. However, it took some time to cool down after we turned off the hob. Additionally, our testers were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also comes with the bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has a child lock and overheating block as well as an auto switch-off system that stops the hob working when it's too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no flames visible. Our test subjects were pleased with that. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via a duct in the surface. Our experts believed that this hob's duct was easy to keep clean, although it took two people to lift the filter out and change it.
4. ovens and hobs
Think about how the hob can work with the layout and design of your kitchen and what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are a great choice for cooking with children or the elderly in mind. They have safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the ideal option. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs during power outages could tip the scales in favour of gas models.